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Tonight featured Cole vs Cole with last name Cole getting the best of first name Cole as the Rangers dropped this series opener against Houston 5-2.
Cole of the Hamels variety was at his best even as he lasted 7 1⁄3 innings. Hamels allowed five runs on seven hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. The big blow came in the third inning in a 1-1 game when Evan Gattis took Hamels deep for a two-run, go-ahead dinger.
The problem with Hamels not being lights out is that Gerrit Cole was doing his thing despite Texas having a few chances to break things open in the early innings. Texas had two runners on base in each of the first and third innings but only scored once on a bloop single by Adrian Beltre in the first frame.
After that, it was pretty much all Astros and too much Gerrit as far as Coles go.
Player of the Game: Shin-Soo Choo extended his on base streak to 23 consecutive games with a leadoff walk in the first inning. Choo has now drawn a walk to begin the contest in each of the games of this homestand.
Choo followed his on base streak lengthening by collecting two hits for the only multi-hit night by a Rangers. None of those hits nor those of his teammates went for home runs, though, which means the game was bad and unfun.
Up Next: The Rangers will send Doug Fister to the mound against his old Tigers teammate Justin Verlander for Houston. Friday night’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm CT.